MUZAFFARABAD, Oct 21 (APP):Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has introduced an interoperability system to streamline digital payments and expand access to financial assistance for women beneficiaries.
The initiative enables beneficiaries to collect their payments through authorized retailers connected to the One-Link network across the country, subject to prescribed procedures and service availability.
Director General BISP Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Haider Murtaza, announced this while addressing the concluding session of a one-day training workshop organized by the BISP AJK Regional Office on digital payments, the Social Protection Wallet and the interoperability system.
The workshop aimed to strengthen staff capacity and ensure effective guidance for beneficiaries during the transition to digital payments.
Director General Operations Management, BISP Headquarters Islamabad, Adnan Ghuman, made a special visit to Muzaffarabad to participate in the training workshop and engage with field officers and staff on the effective implementation of the new digital payment system.
During his interaction with field officers and staff, he emphasized the importance of clearly communicating the new payment procedures, Digital Wallet activation process, fund security measures and complaint redressal mechanism to beneficiaries.
He urged field staff to provide accurate information and effective guidance to ensure that all eligible women can fully benefit from the new digital payment system.
In conclusion, he thanked UNICEF for its support in organizing the workshop and acknowledged its valuable contribution to the initiative. The workshop featured practical sessions on the Social Protection Wallet, digital payment procedures, institutional coordination and grievance redressal.
Senior Resource Person Muhammad Hamza conducted an online session on the Social Protection Wallet and integrated institutional systems. Farukh Rashid, Consultant Quality Assurance at BISP Headquarters, delivered a practical session on the Integrated Grievance Management System (IGMS), covering complaint registration, progress tracking, escalation and resolution.
Dr. Qurrat-ul-Ain, Deputy Director L&D, facilitated group activities and field-based case studies, while Azmat Ali Khan, Assistant Director Policy, delivered a session on policy and decision-making. Masood ur Rehman, Assistant Director L&D, also contributed to the training. A total of 66 officers and officials from various districts of Azad Jammu & Kashmir participated in the workshop.
In his message to beneficiaries, DG Haider Murtaza clarified that women must collect their first instalment from an authorized retailer in accordance with the prescribed procedure to activate their Digital Wallet. Once activated, subsequent payments may be collected from other authorized retailers, subject to applicable rules and service availability.
He advised beneficiaries to collect payments only after receiving the relevant confirmation SMS, safeguard their mobile phones, SIMs and verification details, and never share confidential information with unauthorized persons.
Beneficiaries should count their payments before leaving the retailer and report any unauthorized deductions or payment-related complaints to the relevant BISP office or through the authorized grievance redressal system.
The Director General reiterated BISP’s commitment to transparent payments, protection of beneficiaries’ entitlements and timely resolution of complaints, stressing that unauthorized deductions from financial assistance would not be tolerated.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
